Relationship cognitions and longitudinal trajectories of sexual risk behavior among young gay and bisexual men: The P18 cohort study

Adult Attachment Anxiety Is Protective Against the Effects of Internalized Homophobia on Condomless Sex Among Young Sexual Minority Men: The P18 Cohort Study

Internalized homophobia, or the internalization of negative attitudes toward one's sexual minority identity, is associated with sexual risk behaviors among young sexual minority men (YSMM). However, the formation and maintenance of secure or insecure socio-emotional bonds with friends, family members, and intimate partners (i.e., adult attachment) may mitigate or exacerbate the negative effects of exposure to internalized homophobia. Nevertheless, little is known about how adult attachment influences the association between internalized homophobia and sexual risk behaviors (e.g., condomless anal sex) among YSMM. Thus, this study examined the potential moderating effect of adult attachment on the association between internalized homophobia and condomless anal sex (CAS) behaviors (i.e., insertive CAS and receptive CAS) among a sample of N = 268 YSMM who participated in the study between June 2015-March 2017 using zero-inflated Poisson regression models. We found that adult attachment anxiety, but not adult attachment avoidance, significantly moderated the association between internalized homophobia and receptive CAS behaviors such that those higher on adult attachment anxiety and internalized homophobia had fewer receptive CAS events over the preceding 30 days as compared to those lower on adult attachment anxiety and internalized homophobia. Research efforts should focus on unpacking the complex associations between adult attachment, internalized homophobia, and sexual risk behaviors among YSMM.

Expectations and beliefs: How single young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men envision romantic relationships

We developed measures of relational beliefs and expectations among single young gay and bisexual men (YGBM). Data come from an online cross-sectional study YGBM, which ran from July 2012 until January 2013. There were 50 items on relational beliefs and 25 items on relational expectations. We used random split samples and a priori analysis to group items together and applied principal axis factoring with varimax orthogonal rotation. We had a total N = 1582 in our analytical sample and identified six constructs of relational expectations (restrictions, negative break up, masculine and gender norms, optimism, cheating, immediacy) and two constructs of relational beliefs (sex beliefs, equality). Our findings highlight specific relational cognitions among YGBM and offer insight into the beliefs and expectations that may inform their relationships. Findings may be useful for health professionals to help YGBM reflect and understand the health implications of their beliefs and expectations about same-sex relationships to promote healthy decision-making as they seek future partners.

Event-level patterns of methamphetamine and poly-drug use among millennial sexual minority men: The P18 Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge on methamphetamine use among a new generation of sexual minority men (SMM) is limited. This study describes the event-level patterns of methamphetamine use and characteristics of methamphetamine users across time among Millennial SMM emerging into adulthood.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted in two waves: 2009-2014 (Wave I) and 2014-2019 (Wave II) in the New York City metropolitan area. A total of 600 Millennial SMM ages 18-19 years were recruited for Wave I. A total of 665 SMM ages 22-23 years were recruited for Wave II, of which 41.2% (n = 274) were retained from Wave I. The Timeline Followback assessment was conducted every six months to record event-level drug use in the 30 days prior to the visit.

RESULTS

A total of 5.4% of participants of between the ages of 18-27 reported methamphetamine use throughout the study period. The average number of days of methamphetamine use was significantly higher among racial/ethnic minority men in Wave II (F = 4.34, p = 0.0029). We found methamphetamine use occurred more often on weekend days and same-day use of methamphetamine occurred most often with cannabis and gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Usage of methamphetamine was significantly greater among SMM in Wave II who by design were older than Wave I.

CONCLUSION

We have identified differences in methamphetamine use by race/ethnicity. Weekend use and poly-drug use were common among methamphetamine-using SMM. Data indicate differential use in the population and that attempts to address this addictive behavior must be linked to other drug use and socialization among young SMM.